Type-writing machine



7 (No Model.)

H. ABBOTT. TYPE WRITINGMAGHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. ABBOTT. TYPE- WRITING MACHINE.

No. 437.371. Patented Sept. 80. 1890.

( No Model. 4 Sheets-Shet 2.

'mz mam ravens co.. motwumq, WASHINOYON, n. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. ABBOTT. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Pate glted Sept 30, 1890.

I J W J FL M 4 SheetsSheet 4.

. (No Model.)

H. ABBOTT.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 437,371. Patented Sept. 30. 1890.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

\ .HENRY ABBOTT, oF NEWARK, New JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

srncrmoa'rroiv forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,371, dated September, so, 1890.

Application filed October 6, 1888.

useful lmp'rovementsin Type-\Vriting Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is'a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference. being had to the accompanying drawings,in whic'h I Figure l is a perspective view of my machine from the upper side. Fig. 2 isa like view of the same fromthe lower side, a po'rtionof the locking-plate being removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view. frombelow of said'locking plate and the adjacent parts, Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively vertical sections of the same upon lines parallel with and at a right angle to the front of the machine; Fig. 6. is a perspective view-of -a plate'arrangedj for engage- 2o ment with the key-levers, and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively sections of the same upon lines parallehwithand at a right angle to the front of the machine.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like 2 5 -parts in each of the figures.

In the use of type-writers much trouble is occasioned bythe accidental depression of two adjacent keys, which, when pivoted typebars or levers are employed, usually causes 0 two type to be moved into locking engagement and temporarily blocks the operation of the machine, while: frequently the engaging-levers are bent so as to throw the type out of alignment.

sign of my invention; and such invention consists in a locking-plate which is adapted to be moved longitudinally by the action of the keys of a type-writer and to prevent move- 40 ment of the keys adjacent to the key being operated, substantially as'and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

.While my invention is applicable to any of the usual forms of key-lever machines, its 5 operation and advantages will he sufliciently illustrated by reference to one form, in which-- p v The frame or bed A is rectangular in plan view and within its front portion is provided with several parallel rows of keys, each of which keys consists of'a head that has formed To obviate the diffieulty named is the de-.

Serial No. 287,339. (No model.)

thereon a letter or character and a straight cylindrical.body B, which passes vertically through .suitable openings in said frame, and at a point below the topplate of the latter is conneetedwit-h oneend of a pivoted lever C, that has its opposite end connected with and .adapted to operate a pivoted type-bar-D.

'The lower ends of the keys B and B pass through the bottom plate of the frame A, and

immediately below the same there is located a plate E, which has such dimensions as to of keys and is supported upon or by two or more rollers F and F, that permit itto be moved longitudinally or in a line parallel with the front of the machine.

The plate E is provided with openings 6 and e, which correspond in number tothe number of keys Band B, and have each suchcause it to extend beneath the entire series diameter as to permit the coinciding lower endof a key to pass freely through the same when thelatter is depressed. Said openings are arranged with relation to said keys so that when 'said plate is at one limit of its longitudinal motion but one half of the same (every other opening) coincide with the ends of said keys, while by moving said plate to the opposite limit of its motion the other half of said openings and key ends coincide. The ends of the keys B and B are tapered or the upper ends of the openings e andc are enlarged or both are so shaped, as desired, that when a key is depressed its end will readily enter its opening, and if the same does not coincide therewith will move the plate E in the direction necessary to secure such result; the extreme divergence of an opening being but one-half its diameter. By

this arrangemenig'when a key-is depressed and its end has entered its opening the adjacent keys have no coinciding openings and therefore cannot be depressed, so that it is impossible that by accident contiguous keys should be manipulated to cause two type to be thrown up at one time. Shouldtwo adjacent keys be struck at the same time, but one can be depressed and the other will be blocked by contact with the locking-plate, or in case that the latter is at a point midway between its limits of motion both keys will.

be arrested by engagement with said plate.

The construction described is preferably employed; but, if desired, the locking may be had in connection with the key-levers C and C, for which purpose a plate E may be arranged edgewise beneath each row of levers,

' either in front or rear of the pivotal bearings and provided with notches e and e, that are each adapted to coincide with a certain key when said plate is at the limit of its lateral motion in one direction. When this construction is employed, it will be necessary that a notched plate be employed for each row of keys, andthat such plates be connected together, so that they will be moved simultaneously in the same direction and to the same distance by the action of each key-lever.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1, In combination with a series of keys, a movable plate which is adapted to lock adjacent keys against simultaneous movement, and is provided at intervals with openings, and a part connected with each key and adapted to pass into one of said openings only when said keys are successively operated,-

substantially as andfor the purpose shown.

2. In combination with a series of keys, a recipro'cable plate having a series of openings,

alternate ones'of which are in alignment with alternate ones of said keys, and the remaining ones out of alignment with the remaining keys, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In combination with a series of keys, a reciprocable plate adapted to lock adjacent purpose being provided with openings that are separated from each other a distance alternately wider and narrower than the distance between adjacent keys, and a part connected with each key that is adapted to pass intoone of said openings only when said keys are successively operated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'4. In combination with a series of keys, a

-reciprocable plate which is adapted to lock adjacent keys against movement during the movement of one key, for such purpose being keys against simultaneous movement, for such provided with series of Openings, alternate ones of which being in alignment with alternate ones ofsaid keys and the remaining ones out of alignment with the remaining keys, and a part connected with each key, which when its key is operated engages with one of the openings in said plate-thereby maintaining the, adjacent openings in a position out of alignment with their respective keys, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand his 5th day of September, 1888.

HENRY ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

JOHN W; CoMBs,

ALBERT KAMP. 

